Chapter 81: Professional Performance of the All‑Star Game

Charles Barkley is hoarse.

Since Fan Xi burst onto the scene, he has gone from an excellent basketball commentator and former NBA superstar to a sports‑channel clown who is "good at kneeling" and "good at repeatedly kissing donkey butts."

He paid the highest price to highlight Fan Xi's Miracle Journey; his daughter even told him, "The reason I can't get married might be because you embarrass yourself on TV."

Barkley, though blunt, told his daughter: "You can't marry because you inherited my figure and looks."

But his daughter's words still pricked his nerves. After all, no matter how ugly or poorly built his own daughter is, she is still his daughter.

These bits and pieces of life and media made the easy‑going Charles Barkley lose his mind when he faced four pale donkey butts at this moment.

He shouted loudly that he wanted to make a final wager with Kenny Smith.

Kenny laughed uproariously on TV, overjoyed.

He savored the pleasure of a victor.

He told Charles, "I have no reason to keep gambling with you. When I was very young, my grandfather told me that one must know when to quit. So, Charles, don't hesitate—fulfill your bet now. You're not a whiner who breaks promises and gets fat."

Kenny used provocation to goad Charles Barkley.

Barkley shouted at Smith, "I definitely won't escape; I'm not a coward like you. Kenny, coward, dare you bet big with me?"

"You want me to bet that Jie Ke gets tonight's MVP? Do you think I'd bet?" Kenny Smith isn't a fool; he obviously knows Fan Xi's weight in this All‑Star. Compared with Fan Xi's strength and status in the Rookie Game, his chance at MVP is slim but possible.

And in the All‑Star Game, given Fan Xi's star power, even though he's a starter, the NBA's seniority system is strict; newcomers get very few opportunities in their first All‑Star appearance. Kobe, in his first All‑Star selection, was even frozen on the bench by Karl Malone.

"Don't you always say that your Jieke Fan is a Miracle Child? Come on, devout follower, you should believe miracles will continue. Can you bear me desecrating your Thus we include: English?"

Charles Barkley kept provoking Kenny Smith, raising the stakes: "How about this—if Jieke Fan gets the MVP trophy, I'll kiss ten donkey butts. If he doesn't, I only need you to say, 'Charles, I'm wrong, I shouldn't have offended you.' So? Coward, dare you bet?"

"If you don't even dare to be here…"

Barkley stopped there.

Kenny Smith gritted his teeth and agreed: "Alright, Charles. I'll prepare ten shaven‑butt donkeys for you. Now, hurry and fulfill your earlier promise."

Barkley shouted a single word, sealed the deal, then walked over… muah! muah! muah! muah!

Barkley truly is a man.

The camera zoomed in on his puckered lips as he quickly kissed; he didn't cheat, each kiss was solid and full of humor.

Kenny Smith affectionately called him: Charles—Donkey Man—Barkley.

Er Johnsson considered him a close friend of the mother donkey, abbreviated: Donkey Buddy.

Fans at the Staples Center were thrilled by Barkley's series of actions; even before the All‑Star main event began, this appetizer raised the fans' expectations.

It also sent TNT's ratings soaring.

Moreover, right now, fans worldwide are awaiting one thing: if Jie Ke actually gets MVP, wouldn't Charles Barkley then have to kiss ten hairless donkey buttocks?

At that point, he should make it into the Guinness World Records, right?

"Jie Ke, is it possible that Charles Barkley actually loves kissing donkey butts and just hasn't found a proper chance?" Westbrook asked Fan Xi in the locker‑room hallway.

Because they also saw the footage of Barkley kissing donkey butts on the hallway TV.

Fan Xi frowned and said, "It's hard to rule out that possibility. Maybe kissing donkey butts is like cheating—either zero times or countless times."

Fan Xi's words sparked laughter throughout the corridor.

Kevin Durant suddenly walked over and bluntly said, "Jie Ke, although I'm jealous of your new contract and I've had my agent lodge a serious protest with Nike. But…"

"This time I want to support you for All‑Star MVP."

Kevin Durant's words surprised the surrounding players.

Normally, Kevin Durant would be the most jealous of Fan Xi among the Western All‑Stars.

But he separates the matter from the person so clearly.

And he even wants to help Fan Xi get the All‑Star MVP.

That left everyone stunned.

At that moment, the carefree Westbrook added, "Don't you want to see Charles break a Guinness record? That's ten donkeys, that's twenty hairless butt sections. Hahaha."

The Thunder's twin youngsters prominently stood on Fan Xi's side.

Kobe Bryant didn't state explicitly, but it was clear he was willing to support, as he laughed loudly.

The other players also laughed.

Only Chris Paul could barely smile.

He worried that if Fan Xi truly clinches the All‑Star MVP with the Thunder twins' help, his popularity would skyrocket. He had already made the improbable leap to an All‑Star starter by luck; now, with an unprecedented endorsement deal and Barkley's ten‑mare bet, if he grabs MVP again, soaring to fame would be inevitable.

Paul was worried.

…

Soon, the on‑site DJ began introducing the players' entrances.

The Eastern All‑Stars entered first; their starting five even performed an electrifying break‑dance routine on the spot.

Eastern starter Dwight Howard is a funny guy who loves antics; many say he inherited Shaq O'Neal's fine tradition as the former NBA's top center.

The Western All‑Stars' entrance was simpler—just standing there for a photo.

But the players' cheers upon entry drowned out the East.

After all, this is Los Angeles.

Worth noting, the arena's roar when Kobe Bryant entered was almost identical to that when Fan Xi entered.

This shows how fiercely Fan Xi's popularity has surged lately.

Andrew Bai Na Mu, seated in the third row, felt uneasy, his eyes filled with bitter jealousy.

He had always considered himself the future heir of Los Angeles basketball, but now an undrafted player stole all the spotlight. He was frustrated, regretting why he stood up on the plane; had he not been injured, he believed his then status could have suppressed Fan Xi's rise.

Bai Na Mu's thought was actually correct.

If Bai Na Mu hadn't been injured, Fan Xi couldn't have gotten so many chances. Without those chances, his miracle would be greatly diminished, likely preventing his All‑Star selection and the current glory.

But there's no regret medicine in the world.

Fate is that magical; Bai Na Mu's injury provided a platform for Fan Xi's rise.

Many NBA players have risen this way… when a team's star or key starter gets injured, a substitute steps in and shines, and when the star returns, his spot is gone.

Bai Na Mu should actually be glad he's not a guard; if he were, the first thing after recovery would most likely be being traded.

Beep!

The whistle sounded quickly, and the game began.

The Western team's starters are: Tim Duncan, Nowitzki, Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, Fan Xi.

The Eastern team's starters are: Dwight Howard, Carmelo Anthony, Le Bu Lang Zhang Si, Dwyane Wade, Derek Rose.

Aside from Durant and Fan Xi, the Western starters are all superstars from the "Fan 96" golden generation. They are a generation older than the Eastern All‑Stars, and these three have been key architects of the "West strong, East weak" pattern over the past decade.

However, with the rise of the "Fan 03" generation and the formation of Boston's Three Giants, the West‑strong, East‑weak pattern is no longer so evident.

Now, Howard, Anthony, James, and Wade—these mid‑career superstars—have become the backbone of the league.

Although Derek Rose only joined the league in 2008, he and Durant are truly phenomenon‑level rookies of recent years. This season, Rosa has led the Bulls to a soaring record, and many believe he could become the youngest regular‑season MVP in history.

Therefore, in terms of aggression and ferocity, the Eastern starters are stronger than the Western ones.

Beep!

As the head referee blew the whistle, the basketball was tossed into the air.

Dwight Howard overpowered Duncan, slapping the ball into his own half, and Derek Rose received it and drove forward.

Based on the "relaxation" tips Kobe Bryant gave Fan Xi before the game, Fan Xi did not defend seriously.

Although Rosa's playing style is explosive, he is not the type who excels at flashy moves.

His technique is a bit like a legendary Chinese martial art: kill the opponent, no show.

He passed the ball to Wade.

Flash Wade, who excels at interacting with fans, knows what the fans want; he bursts into the paint, jumps, swings the ball from under his hips back and forth, tosses it onto the backboard, and it rebounds out.

Immediately, Le Bu Lang Zhang Si leapt from the other side with a telepathic connection… Boom!

Slam dunk!

James's dunk was ferociously extreme, making the rim roar.

Combined with Dwyane Wade's earlier dazzling assist, the play was both beautiful and dominant, naturally earning full applause.

After watching, Fan Xi immediately grasped the insight.

This is his specialty.

He truly comes from street basketball.

He dribbled to beyond the three‑point line, and Derek Rose did not guard him.

But then Fan Xi suddenly surged forward a step, causing Rosa to instinctively step back a foot. At that moment, Fan Xi abruptly spun with the ball, his body turning 360 degrees like a giant windmill; during the spin he flung the ball like a fiery wheel… as if completing both orbit and rotation.

The move drew gasps from the entire arena.

Rosa was somewhat taken by surprise.

Then Fan Xi suddenly dribbled forward in a low stance, and as Rosa lowered his head… whoosh!

Fan Xi, almost skimming the ground, spun again, handling the ball with flamboyant flair.

It was an unprecedented performance on the All‑Star stage.

One should know that most NBA superstars come from the academy system and have little study of street moves. Those who deeply master street techniques rarely make it to the NBA; even the former street‑ball king Alston, who did reach the NBA, never got a chance to play in the All‑Star Game.

Thus, Fan Xi's performance is unique since the All‑Star Game's inception.

When he completed a second beautiful ground‑level spin, many fans even stood up to cheer and scream for him.

At that moment, Fan Xi surged forward a step, suddenly turned, and flung the ball hand‑off into the paint… a no‑look pass that left the sideline spectators dazzled.

Meanwhile, an open Duncan in the paint received the ball.

Stone Buddha has always been a quietly seductive man.

When he saw Fan Xi's flamboyant display, his hidden DNA stirred; he leapt powerfully, holding the ball with both hands to execute a classic O'Neal dunk, he ripped the rim hard… Boom!

The atmosphere at Staples Center ignited instantly.

Screams rang continuously.

Even Tim Duncan, the league's most tenured, most honored, and historically highest‑ranked player, ran over and gave Fan Xi a high‑five.

Sss!

Le Bu Lang Zhang Si inhaled sharply, watching the wildly shouting fans and the celebrities on the sidelines who kept cheering for Fan Xi.

He realized the pressure was huge.

He originally thought this rookie Fan Xi would be restrained in his first NBA game.

He didn't expect the guy to start with a jaw‑dropping flashy performance, and it was highly professional.

What does the All‑Star Game showcase?

It's all about the excitement.

Moreover, at the start, by convention, no one truly defends. Whoever does is seen as out of place and breaking the rules.

What should one do about that?

Soon, he thought of a solution.

He decided to one‑on‑one with Kevin Durant.

Because Kevin Durant and he are Nike's twin stars, hailed as the league's only two "bug" players, both are small forwards who mis‑match any opponent. Media and critics believe the two will dominate the league, so pulling Durant into the one‑on‑one spotlight will naturally reduce Fan Xi's show.

James began ball‑handling in front of Kevin Durant.

Their one‑on‑one truly sparked considerable screams from the crowd.

Finally, James easily drove past Durant, surged into the paint, and slammed dunk.

After scoring, James raised an eyebrow at Durant: "Kevin, it's your turn."

Who would have thought Durant shook his head and said, "I'm not available today."

Immediately, he passed the basketball to Fan Xi: "Jie Ke, go have fun."

James saw this, his eyes went wide.

…